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Park Update
www.parkworld-online.com
To most people, Coney Island is a boardwalk open to the public, which it has always been."
famous New York City amusement As a short-term solution, Thor Equities has invited ride
park. In fact, it is a collection of operator Anthony Raffaele to operate more than two dozen
several smaller parks and portable attractions on the former Astroland site under the
independent concessionaires. banner of Dreamland, the park that burned down 98 years
At the start of the 20th Century, ago. There are no plans for this to continue beyond the
visitors' senses were overwhelmed summer, although a temporary amusement park is muted
by the unprecedented production elsewhere for 2010 and beyond. The interim park would
that was Coney. Steeplechase, Luna operate for five to seven years as infrastructure work on the
and Dreamland Parks outdid every planned rides, apartments and retail space in the
World's Fair in the exotic, overblown redevelopment plan is completed.
scope of their architecture. Every
building gleamed with the futuristic Optimistic Outlook
splendour of electric light. Oompah With less competition remaining, Dennis Vourderis, who
music, animal noises and the cries with his brother Steve owns Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, is
of a joyful crowd mingled with the optimistic for the future of his park: "We have upgraded
smells of taffy, hot dogs and waffles our amusement park with many infrastructure
to make the air intoxicating. People improvements and a new ride for the kiddie park,” he says.
saw villages of dwarves, the world's “Since we are the only full size amusement park left, we
largest woman, exotic dancers and will need to hire additional staff. We have also developed
more, all for the cost of a train ride a co-operative promotional group with the other major
from Manhattan. Coney Island attractions including the Cyclone
rollercoaster, Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team, New York
Coney Conflict Aquarium and Nathan's Hot Dog Restaurant."
Now, however, Coney is struggling “The city is fully committed to making sure that Coney
for its very existence. Today's Coney Island is open and Coney East is full of amusement,”
Island is just a remnant of the highlights Lynn Kelly, president of the Coney Island
grandeur of earlier times, Development Corporation, referring to the area within the
threatened by developers. development zone slated for rides and attractions.
As plans are explored for the 27-acre amusement and
CONEY ISLAND
entertainment district, and the temporary attractions in
between, a Coney Island Amusement Advisory Panel has
been formed by the New York City Economic Development
CROSSROADS
Corporation and Coney Island Development
Corporation.
“Coney Island, by its very historic nature and due to
the fact that its magic has been experienced by literally
millions of visitors, has an incredibly wide array of
New York City
Astroland is no longer, having closed at the end of stakeholders who each have their own passionate
venue in state of
2008 and the rides removed. The property was sold to independent ideas about the future,” says Jim Seay of
developer Thor Equities in 2006. Of the legendary Coney Premier Rides, one of several notable industry names on
flux as season
Island attractions, only the Parachute Jump, the Wonder the panel. “Looking ahead, the one point that everyone
begins
Wheel and the Cyclone rollercoaster remain, because they can agree on is that a vibrant and entertaining Coney
are designated historic landmarks, and the Parachute Island is a benefit to everyone and this fact alone will
A century ago Coney Island
Jump ceased to take riders many years ago. Deno's help guide and push all of the parties to a consensus
had been the standard to
Wonder Wheel Park, which was adjacent to Astroland and that will return the splendour to the classic location."
which other traditional
contains the 1918-built Wheel, was not sold to Thor,
amusement parks of its era
however, and continues to operate. No Time To Wait
were compared and it was
New York City has proposed a 27-acre entertainment Following three days of workshops and discussions in
the veritable epicentre of
district, with 9.4 acres devoted exclusively to rides, May, the advisory panel has put forward a number of
new ride innovations. Today
rollercaosters, freak shows, arcades and other attractions. recommendations (more details at www.parkworld-
it is at a crossroads.
Thor Equities favours a smaller amusement park with retail online.com):
Paul Ruben reports
and time-share condominiums to offset the costs of the 1) Leverage Coney Island’s brand and its unique
entertainment district. The City believes that Thor really natural and historical assets.
wants to build housing and a mall in the specially- 2) Honour and celebrate Coney Island’s history; but
designated district, which would ultimately overwhelm the don’t get overly nostalgic.
amusements. The City even offered to buy Thor's 10.5 3) Get the core of Coney Island’s amusement district
acres at a reasonable profit, but Thor declined. The City right (the 12-acre amusement area that facing the
could confiscate the property, claiming eminent domain, boardwalk).
but is resisting this alternative. 4) Expand Coney Island’s seasonal core amusement
Carol Hill Albert, the former owner of Astroland who experience to the larger, year-round urban
continues to operate the Cyclone coaster, says, "I am entertainment district.
hoping that whatever solution is arrived at will be one that 5) Coney Island must remain accessible, open and
keeps Coney Island affordable, and keeps the beach and affordable.
28
JUNE 2009
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